World Cup Semifinal Odds and Backstories On Argentina, Germany, Brazil and Netherlands

Three-time World Cup loser Netherlands is the only outsider in a final four that features three of the most successful sides in history. Still, Argentina, Brazil, and Germany, despite having won more than half of all the World Cups played, have their own reasons for angst. Here then are each semi-finalists narrative along with the moneyline odds.

On October 1990 Germans gathered in their stone-washed jeans in front of Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate to sing the Scorpions’ “Wind of Change” in celebration of reunification. Such scenes of patriotic fervor wouldn’t be repeated until 2006’s World Cup, but Die Mannschaft failed to bring home its first-ever title as a unified nation. The fervor for a first post-reunification title is still there, as is the angst over whether Jogi Low’s men can finally follow through on the tactical and cultural revolution begun by Jurgen Klinsmann in the wake of 2002’s failure.

Argentina

To some, Lionel Messi is more Spanish than Argentinian. He left for Barcelona at the age of 11 to receive HGH to treat his growth hormone deficiency. He’s been in Barcelona ever since and is more associated with their tika-taka system than La Albiceleste’s typical rugged style. It hasn’t helped that Argentina have failed to impress at either the World Cup or Copa America with him on the squad. Winning a first title since Maradona’s squad in 1986 would paper over any misgivings about their wayward son.